Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Have you looked at those gorgeous vintage/grunge dimensional flowers and wanted to make them, but didn’t want to invest the money in several punches to get all the sizes you need? If you are like me and find that finances are just too strapped to do that and you have flowers that you have purchased in the past that are sitting in a box somewhere, here is your chance to use them to create some lovely flowers.

For my flowers, I have used 7 layers, but you can use what you like…Just be sure to use different size flowers. Don't be afraid to experiment. There is no right or wrong.

What you will need…

7 flowers in various sizes, brad and water mister.

﻿Step 1

Take each flower and squash it up into a little ball…Kind of like those spit wads they boys used to

throw in study hall.. Does that date me or do they still do that kind of thing? LOL

Step 2

Open up each flower. Be careful as once you have squashed them the fibers are no longer as stiff. At this point they look pitiful! Don't dispair. Wait for the results from this abuse.

Step 3

After you have opened each flower, starting with the smallest put the brad in the center and continue layering until you have all the layers… Be sure to stagger your petals.You can stop here and have made a lovely vintage flower, however if you want to grunge it up a little then use the following steps.

Step 4 To Grunge It UP

Take your spray bottle with water and spray each flower starting at the top with the smallest flower.Again remember to be careful as these are paper and once they are wet they are fragile.After spraying the first layer bring it toward the center. Continue with each layer until they are all done.

Step 5

It should look like this.This will take at least overnight to dry depending on how wet you got them.

Step 6

After it has dried, carefully open each layer starting at the base (largest flower). When you have finished all layers, it should look something like this. I didn’t open the smallest layer in the center to have it look the bud part of the flower center.I wish you could see them in real life.They are beautiful.At this point you can even spray them with Glimmer Mists or Smooch Spritz.

Now for the project I made using my handmade store-boughten flowers.

Sorry about the dark photos... My camera battery is going dead.

This week Top Tip Tuesday is all about flowers so I would like to enter this tip and box

Sunday, January 23, 2011

This will be a quick post to let you all know that I may not be on the computer very much in the next couple weeks. I had been having computer problems, thought maybe a virus, but took it in for a sweep and nothing was found. Then on Thursday I got a notice from my virus protection program that I needed to download the newest upgrade. I did and now I have to have my hard drive reformatted. It won't even let me get on the internet and I had to go into safe mode to even uninstall the program. The techs told me it corrupted my registery and my operating system. Grrrrrrr....Computer problems rank right up there with car problems... I hate both of them and they are both expensive to fix. Having said that since my computer is 7 years old...I can't complain about it's performance, but I was at least hoping for 7 more years..LOL Anyway they recommended I replace my harddrive at this time due to age...so I will be without a computer for awhile, but will try to check my email from time to time when I'm at my sons.

I have always wanted to know how to make one of these and with her simple step, by step instructions even me who is challenged in more ways than I care to admit could make one... I'm impressed! Thanks for the great instructions. Will enter both of my creations in their challenge this week. It is sentiments and you have several chances to win some great prizes.. Hurry on over, you still have a couple days.

I think I made this card for hubby for Valentine's Day, but am not sure as I'm thinking it might be a bit too girly??? What do you think?

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

I'm on a roll...Two posts in one day. Most of the time, I'm lucky if I get one post in a week...Maybe things are going to be looking up in the Jones Household....LOL

I adore this image and everytime I need a fun get well card, this is my image of choice. It was a freebie from Digi Stamps Boutique. I used odds and ends of paper that were laying on my desk from other projects. (I haven't cleaned my desk since before Christmas and I can't even see the surface.)LOL...

It's cold, blustery, frigid, whatever you want to call it. COLD...It is only 18 degrees. I don't know what the windchill is and I really don't want to know. We have about 6 inches of snow, which in our area isn't much. I got out this morning and cleared the driveway. Hubby came out to give me a few pointers and after a few minutes of realizing that I wasn't doing it to suit him... I politely said..."Bug Off", I'm doing it my way".. It may not have been his way, but it looked pretty good to me when I got finished. LOL. The end result was to clear the snow from the driveway and I accomplished that. We've had this snowblower for two years and I just wanted to see if I could operate it... I can... Will I do it again? Probably not unless it's a necessity! LOL

I came in and thought I would take some time to craft while trying to get warm... I did carft, however I have NOT gotten warm yet and it's afternoon already. Hot coffee, nor lunch has warmed me up at all.

Here are some of the fruits of my crafting labors today.

I know...it's not Christmas...However I actually made this the other day because I loved the image and the papers. I would like to enter it in the following challenge

Little disappointed in this card. The words.. I and love doesn't show up well in the photo, but it is embossed with gold embossing powder. Love the font and both of my stamps are bargin buys from Michaels. 75 cents each!

Although I am not really a silver, black and white type person for some reason this card appealed to me. I made this as a "thank you" but couldn't figure out where to put it on the outside, so it is in the inside. When I got it finished I found it fit quite a few challenges this week... Lucky me. The flowers are old stamps by outlines. I really tried to not get my skin reflection in the silver mirri paper... No luck! The leaves really are silver, not skin tone. LOL

Monday, January 10, 2011

I haven't tried these yet, but after reading about them I'm dying to... If you'd like a chance to win some go on over to... Here..

This is what they have to say about this glass glitter...

We are continuing Give Away January with a Great Set of our Five new Glitter Crystals.

These are a different look from our standard glass glitter, Translucent Glass Glitter Crystals! This is what our glass glitter looks like without it's sterling silver coating. Use to layer over other colors or use on a white or light background for a pure, pastel color!

We will only run this Give Away for one week, so get your comments in to make sure you are in the running for this really nice set! The winner will get a package that include a generous amount of EACH of our five Glitter Crystals.

We have had these in our catalog for a while, but most people go for the more sparkly Glass Glitter, but you have to give these little Crystals a chance! Play with them, create something wonderful.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

I had a little time to do some creating, but I have to say my mojo has still not returned. Maybe now that our son is home from the hospital and things have returned to a full roar here, which is normal in our house my mojo might return. However mojo or no mojo I still need some cards for this month.

The snomen cards are ones that I will probably use for Christmas next year. (Already 2 for Christmas 2011) A dear, dear friend sent me these images and I fell madly in love with them and just had to color them. You really brightened my day the day they arrived. (Thanks hun...they are beautiful)..

I also needed an anniversary card this month...I know this one looks like valentine's but...it will be anniversary... I've made up my mind... LOL

I loved this paper, however it is over 4 years old and I have no idea who it is made by. It fit these pictures this year of Miss V playing in the snow. Again I used snowpeople images sent by my friend. I may just have to buy this stamp. I really am in love with it. Maybe it's because I love snowmen???

Same image just different papers... These papers were downloaded from http://www.scrapbookflair.com/ They have great digital elements and papers for free each month. The quality of print outs is fabulous. So even if you are not a scrapbooker, but are looking for unique papers..you need to check this out

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

We have a few birthday's this month and I am sorry to say that I only have one card completed. It seems that my mojo has gone walk about and my time is non existant at the moment. Anyway this is the card I came up with for tomorrow's birthday. Nothing special and a quickie.